John Maclean leaves wheelchair behind as he completes first triathlon on his own two feet

More than a quarter of a century after an eight tonne truck on a Western Sydney highway left him a paraplegic, John Maclean has finished a triathlon on his own two feet.

Wheelchair athlete John Maclean competing in the Nepean Triathlon at Penrith, Sydney as an able-bodied athlete. Pic Brett Costello

MORE than quarter of a century after an eight tonne truck on a Western Sydney highway left him a paraplegic, John Maclean has finished a triathlon on his two feet.

At the end of one of the most emotional days of his life, an exhausted Maclean managed to do something he never imagined for a second he would achieve _ walk across a finish line.

MIRACLE MAN BACK ON HIS FEET

Surrounded by his family, friends, sporting mates and thousands of well wishers, Maclean completed the race he had been preparing for when hit by a truck on a training ride back in 1988.

“This is the hardest thing I have ever done, said Maclean as he shuffled to the finish of the Nepean Triathlon, wobbling over the finish without the support of his walking poles.

Every one of the final 10km felt 100km long. But Maclean refused to give in to the pain and walked on.

When the going got tough his wife Amanda stopped and kissed her husband. When it got even tougher he though of his son Jake.

John Maclean with wife Amanda in the lead-up to the triathlon. Pic Brett Costello

Thanks to tremor therapy, this incomplete paraplegic left with a broken back, a pelvis broken in four places, two shattered arms, broken ribs and a punctured lung when hit by a truck in 1988 is walking again.

John Maclean stands up next to his wheelchair. Pic Brett Costello

Slowly, painfully and today with a leg brace and walking sticks. But still walking.

And Maclean, who is proving an inspiration for injured NRL player Alex McKinnon, rated today’s feat as his greatest sporting triumph.

Maclean refused to sit in his wheelchair at the end of the 1km swim, 30km cycle and 10km run triathlon at Penrith rowing centre.

Only later, when his body gave out, did he sit on a chair to rest.